Happy Belated Thanksgiving! Happy Hanukkah! Mele Kalikimaka! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Some how I got caught up in the Holiday Rush and neglected my blog. We continue to get busier and busier every month. We are grateful every day.

Amongst the hustle and bustle, I have been nursing a frozen shoulder- properly known as adhesive capsulitis of the right shoulder. I spend an hour three times per week in physical therapy trying to regain range of motion and strength. I spend a good hour a week being iced. During this time I stare at the white ceiling and daydream. I have had floaters in my right eye since grad school when my rear view mirror somehow decided to hit me in the eye. But while daydreaming in PT, I have noticed more floaters. So being the astute clinician that I am, I covered each eye and discovered that these new floaters were in my left and most myopic eye. I waited until we had an open afternoon and had the good doctor examine my retinas.

We are two completely different people. I am a doer. A mover. I have a job; I get it done. The doctor, on the other hand, is painstakingly meticulous and deliberate. Never in a hurry. Ever. This is a good thing if you ever need a surgeon.

No, I need to laser the area. You do not want this tear to continue into a full-blown retinal detachment. Laser is pretty straight-forward; detachment surgery is much more involved.

So rather than leave the office to pick up my children, I have a laser procedure. The room is small and cozy. I am soooooo happy that I decided to paint the walls a soothing color because I am pretty anxious by now.

Does this hurt?

No.

Will I smell burning flesh?

No!

What do I do?

You just stay still and look straight ahead.

Great.

The laser procedure requires a special lens which is coated in a cool jelly substance. Aside from that, I felt nothing. I tried my best to keep looking at one target. I tried to stay still. Once he was able to locate my tiny tear, he zapped it. Bam! Bam! Bright green light. Thankfully no pain. Its location was so far anterior that he could not get a sufficient view to laser completely. He will have to repeat, but this time with me reclined. Unfortunately, our nephew Trevor won’t be here to drive his old auntie home.

Trevor is leaving us to resume his education at University of Nebraska in Lincoln. I am sad to lose him both professionally and personally. It has been very helpful to have that third person at the office. And we have really enjoyed getting to know him as an adult. I remember him best when he was about three years old. He is now 23! But on the bright side, I am so happy that he has decided to go back to school and finish what he started. If he still wants to go in to sports training he will need that degree. Best of luck, Trevor! We will be rooting for you from afar.